Ameriprise Financial has temporarily suspended an advisor, Lee Giobbie, 40, from Easthampton, N.J., following his arrest related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The Department of Justice has charged Giobbie with felony counts of civil disorder and obstruction of an official proceeding, along with multiple misdemeanor offenses.
Giobbie has not been available for comments regarding the charges.
In response to the federal indictment, Ameriprise Financial has initiated an internal investigation, stating, "Upon learning of the federal indictment, we immediately suspended the advisor pending an investigation by our firm."
The arrest was facilitated by a tip from an online investigator, who had previously collaborated with the FBI. This individual successfully linked images and videos of Giobbie from the day of the riot with his professional and personal social media profiles. Notably, Giobbie was identified wearing a distinctive Philadelphia Eagles hat in both the riot footage and a photograph from his Facebook page.
The January 6 attack, aimed at obstructing the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, has led to over 1,200 charges against participants. Online detectives have played a critical role in assisting law enforcement with identifying individuals involved through the analysis of digital media from the event.
According to the FBI, footage shows Giobbie actively participating in the riot, including using a bullhorn to amplify the speech given before the attack. He was seen urging others to breach police barricades and leading chants synonymous with the riot's objectives. Giobbie's actions at the Capitol's steps and his subsequent entry into the building were detailed in court documents, highlighting his involvement in the day's events.
Giobbie's apprehension inside the Capitol and his exit were also noted in the investigation, underscoring his direct participation in the riot. Ameriprise Financial's decision to suspend Giobbie underscores the firm's commitment to addressing the serious nature of the allegations.
